Side Cinema was first opened in the late 1970s by Amber Films to show radical and independent film, but closed in the 1980s. Now it is headquarters to outsider programming of radical, independent and historically important films and other media events, through Cineside, Tyneside Radical Film Festival, A-Side and Other side. We show a truly independent programme of inspirational and inspired films as cheaply as possible. We hope you like our cosy venue, which we like to think of as a haven (asylum?) from the cultural homogeneity delivered from on high. We're membership led and if you have suggestions or even time to spare we welcome everyone's input.

we're thinking over the possibility of organizing a big event with participation from 5 countries, in 5 months, like one country a month or just mix them all together, dont know. we're still aplying for some supports in order to pay for trips n all so it would never happen before january. we'd be very happy in inviting you along, and maybe if interested of course you could organize some contacts from other artists/groups from scotland for us, or even organize between yourselves. also checking out posible local supports for arts interchange could be nice.

me and a few mates have been talking about starting a community workshop and gallery space in our town.all these links will come in real handy while we try and work out how to go about it.if anyone can help with advice or anything get in touch.my emails verybadgnus@yahoo.com.ta

A design collective located in Machias, Maine. International graphics campaigns like 'Plan Colombia' and 'Latin America Solidarity,' as well as massive stone mosaic mural projects and an apprenticeship program. Wicked folks.

What: 'A space for organising, supporting and campaigning autonomously. Kebele is a community co-operative, run by volunteers on a not-for-profit basis and providing an alternative social space. We organise collectively without leaders and oppose all forms of authority. Amongst other things, Kebele has provided a very popular vegan cafe and a bike workshop. ' Also computer club, screenprinting, infoshop and more.

What: 'The Sumac Centre provides resources and a meeting place for local groups and individuals campaigning for human and animal rights, the environment, peace and co-operation world-wide.' Social club, music/djs, cafe, quiz night and more.

"Well regarded as one of the best places for vegetarian fare within the capital, the Bonnington Cafe is a communally run restaurant with a long tradition of amazing food, served within a wonderful bohemian and laid back atmosphere."

Hello from The Dayton Circus. I'm not quite sure you are the person this message should go to but you were first on the member list so I figure if nothing else you can pass this info on. My name is Maggie Ottoson and I belong to an emerging group in Dayton Ohio called The Dayton Circus Creative Collective. We are made up of mostly artists, some creative types and visionaries whom are basically trying to do what you guys at the Forest have achieved. The reason I’m contacting you is that you are a group whose values and interests are very similar to ours and I think we should have an open dialogue.

Right now we have a crew of about 70 people. We’ve had two benefit shows the first of which raised $2,000 the second I’m not sure because it was yesterday actually. We also participated in a one night downtown Dayton event that happens twice a year showcasing urban galleries and living spaces. That night we manned an information both and had a performing art showcase all night. Later in the Summer we plan to do our second large showcase of local artists called The Sideshow. The Sideshow is our way of giving artists who never presented before an outlet. Our goal is to have a building for community art space to work, present, and live but ultimately we are so much more than that. We want to create a Dayton that attracts and retains artists and forward thinkers. After all quality of life is not just how much money you make it’s also how strong your community is. I know of a few other groups in the states that also share these goals and values and will be getting in touch with them as well. I think it would be great to form a network of groups. We can help one another with tips and advice and maybe down the road have folks from one group visit the other. Who knows the possibilities are limitless. I hope you agree.

Hello! I volunteered at The Forest during the summer of 2002 after meeting Matthew Cheney in Vancouver, BC (he was volunteering at The Blinding Light!! Cinema where I worked at the time). That summer was a great experience. I recently moved to rural Saskatchewan where I opened my own café and art shop (The All Citizens Shop), in no small part inspired by places like The Forest and The Blinding Light!!. Right now the shop is run by me and my boyfriend, Tyler Brett, (we're both artists so it's artist-run). We are located in a town of approx. 600 people. We have yet to make a profit and so are "non profit" by default. We sell items made by artists from across Canada and can serve up a great latté. Come visit!

Synergy is made up of a vibrant community of like-minded people, putting together not only some of the most forward-thinking club nights in the UK, but also operating the Synergy Centre in South London - designed to reach out on a more local level and engage with diverse, disadvantaged communities.

The Synergy Centre secured a three year lease on an ex-warehouse in South London and undertook extensive renovations to make it fit for purpose, including installing a sprung wooden dance floor, building a sound insulating wall, installing a recording studio and repainting the entire interior of the building. Thanks to the hard work of its volunteers The Synergy Centre is now a thriving venue, offering a variety of fully equipped spaces for workshops, conferences, parties and other events

Just got posted to the Infoseed list. Maybe an inspiration for our ideas about a new office/meeting space. Also the kind of thing Infoseed always wanted to be.

a community space equipped with locally recycled computers running free, open source software. We provide a framework, resources and support for self-directed learning, arts and creativity. Taking part is totally free, and anyone can walk in and contribute.

For those of you who follow, are, or have in the past been engaged
with artist-run centres or collectives or artist-initiated and
organized projects, we are seeking submissions to a book about this
milieu; the book will be a kind of profile, snapshot, cross-section
with many short texts (3-500 words) by many many people (100+).

In particular we are looking for challenging, imaginative,
future-oriented texts. It has always been the case that
artist-initiated activities suffer extraordinary pressures
(financial, administrative) but we are feeling that we are on the
cusp of a kind of sea change in which artists work differently and
have different organizational support needs; that is what we hope the
book will address.

I'm really disappointed. This list was created as a temporary thing until we got a wiki working. Wiki was always going to be the best format for this kind of thing. Now we have it, and nobody has paid it the slightest bit of attention. They continue to add details to this list

What:"Showing concern for the regeneration of disused property and the introduction of arts to the community"

TAO objectives show concern for the regeneration of disused property and the introduction of arts to the community.

We aim to assist the promotion of our members by providing the opportunity to exhibit and show, use of workshop and rehearsal space, TAO facilities and equipment, and providing access to a network of artists, actors and performers through our website

The Super Dimension Fortress is a networked community of free softwareauthors, teachers, librarians, students, researchers, hobbyists, computerenthusiasts, the aural and visually impaired. It is operated as a federallyrecognised non-profit 501(c)(7) and is supported by its members.

Our mission is to provide remotely accessible computing facilities forthe advancement of public education, cultural enrichment, scientificresearch and recreation. Members can interact electronically with eachother regardless of their location using passive or interactive forums.Further purposes include the recreational exchange of informationconcerning the Liberal and Fine Arts.

I use these guys for email, web space and shell access, and its fun to read their chat boards and be part of an obscure little community. Its like a little corner of the web where AOL and advertising and commercialisation never happened. Wonderful. Its on a donation basis, supported by its members instead of by adverts. It is for people who are interested in UNIX though, i.e. this isnt gmail.

The reason I posted it here is that they publish compilation CDs of music made by their members. Very similar to what the forest does.

The deadline for submissions for SDF Music Compilation Volume V isDecember 31st, 2007. This compilation is an open genre project inwhich the artists help distribute the CD.

The concept is very simple:

1. You submit an original song or spoken word piece of approximately 7 minutes or less. Each artist gets a page in a full color booklet.

2. You can either pay $100 and get 25 CDs or pay nothing and get 0 CDs. So you get 25 CDs for $100. Not only does this help fund the project, but you have the potential to make money for yourself. We recommend you sell the CD for $6 which will get you your $100 back as well as make you $50. And since the compilation features bands the world over, the CD gets distributed world wide.

If you have not heard about this project, you can review the previous 4compilations here:

As many of you know, Flywheel, in Easthampton, MA is a non-profit multi-use art space that has hosted some of the country's most innovative and unsung performers. Artists such as Ted Leo, Fugazi, Deerhoof, Lightning Bolt, Sonic Youth not to mention dozens of Ecstatic Peace artists, have played Flywheel along the way. Flywheel has also hosted film screenings, cabaret, spoken word, art openings, children's programs and even a traveling circus over it's storied nine year history.

Earlier this year Flywheel was given the opportunity to move into a beautiful new space twice the size of it's previous one. The new centralized location will significantly raise the public profile of Flywheel and allow them to finally live up to their original vision of serving a wider portion of the community. The increased size of the new performance hall will also allow Flywheel to book shows and put on performances that were impossible in the old space.

They've been busy raising the funds necessary to renovate and maintain this new space and would like to reopen in early 2008. Ecstatic Peace has made a commitment to help Flywheel and we hope you'll also consider doing what you can.

How You Can Help

1) Make a donation via PayPal to support Flywheel's general expenses.

2) You can also donate by mail. Make checks payable to Flywheel and mail to:

Hey everyone this is my first post. At the moment i'm living in Malaysia and there is a small café resturant in Kuala Lumpur called "Palate Palette" and they also make use of alot of volunteers. It's a popular hang out around the city, and they also try to help out struggling artists. film makers etc. by showcasing thier works for free. They also host clothes swaps and junkyard sales every month which attract alot of attention, and the people who work there are really friendly and down to earth.